How Stripe fees work
Stripe’s standard pricing is pay-as-you-go. There is no monthly fee. For each successful card payment you pay a percentage plus a fixed amount. Some situations add a few percent more:
- the card was issued in another country (or another region, in Europe),
- Stripe converts the currency,
- the card number was typed in by hand (US and Canada).
You receive = Amount − Fee
Bank debits work differently. US ACH is 0.8% with a $5 cap, SEPA in the euro area is a flat €0.35, and UK Bacs is 1% with a 20p minimum and £4 cap. For large invoices these are much cheaper than cards.
Standard Stripe card rates (checked 22 October 2026)
| Account | Domestic card | International card | Currency conversion |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 2.9% + 30¢ | +1.5% | +1% |
| UK | 1.5% + 20p | 3.15% + 20p (EEA 2.5% + 20p) | +2% |
| Germany / Ireland | 1.5% + €0.25 (premium 2.8%) | 3.15% + €0.25 (UK 2.5%) | +2% |
| Canada | 2.9% + C$0.30 | +0.8% | +2% |
| Australia | 1.65% + A$0.30 | 3.5% + A$0.30 | +2% |
| India | 2% | 3% (Amex 3.5%) | +2% |
| Singapore | 3.4% + S$0.50 | +0.5% | +2% |
Australia’s international rate is due to fall to 2.8% + A$0.30 on 1 April 2027, according to Stripe.
Worked example 1: a US online shop
A US customer pays $80 with a US card.
- 2.9% × $80 = $2.32
- Plus 30¢ = $2.62 fee
- You receive $77.38, an effective rate of 3.28%
If the same customer used a UK-issued card, the rate is 4.4% + 30¢: $3.52 + $0.30 = $3.82.
Worked example 2: passing the fee on
A UK consultant wants £1,000 from a client in Germany who pays by card. EEA cards on a UK account cost 2.5% + 20p.
(£1,000 + £0.20) ÷ 0.975 = £1,025.85. Stripe’s fee on that is £25.85, leaving £1,000. If the client could pay by Bacs Direct Debit instead, the fee would be capped at £4.
Worked example 3: small payments
The fixed fee matters most on small amounts. A $3 US card payment costs $0.087 + $0.30 = $0.39, or 13% of the sale. On $300 the same rates cost 3.0%. If you sell many small items, bundle them or set a minimum order.
Tips to cut Stripe fees
- Use bank debits for large B2B payments. ACH, SEPA and Bacs are a fraction of card costs.
- Price in your customer’s currency only if it brings sales. Otherwise the conversion fee (1–2%) is avoidable.
- Watch the region of the card. In the UK and Europe, an “international” card costs about twice a domestic one.
- Know your add-ons. Stripe Invoicing adds 0.4% per paid invoice. Billing, Tax and Instant Payouts are also extra.
- Ask about custom pricing once your volume is large. Stripe offers it, but this calculator shows only the public rates.
Compare before you choose
PayPal’s US Checkout rate is 3.49% + $0.49, so Stripe is usually cheaper for card buyers. Some customers still prefer to pay with PayPal. See both with the PayPal fee calculator. If you sell through Shopify, its own payment rates replace Stripe’s; try the Shopify profit calculator. To bill a client, make a PDF in the invoice generator. Then add the fee to your costs in the profit margin calculator.
VAT or GST may be added to Stripe’s fees in some countries. Your Stripe dashboard shows the exact fee on every payment.